Deflated-tire detector.



H. G. QUICK. DEFLATED TIRE DETECTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1914.

L1 1 5,022.- Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

i717 a INVENTOR. WITNESSES:

.4 TTOR NE Y tion.

This invention UNITED sTAr s rATENT orrioa.

HARRY c. QUICK, OF .OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR To HARRY s. srnwaa'r, or

- SAN rmmcisoo, CALIFORNIA.

DEFLATED-TIB-E DETECTOR.

I useful Improvements in Deflated-Tire Detectors, of which the following is a specificasignal intended primarily for use in connection with pneumatic tires ordinarily employed upon motor vehicles;

- The object of the invention is to prov de an improved device of this character constructed'in such manneras to indicate to the driver of the vehicle, through the medium of a signal upon the dash board, the fact that a tirehas become deflated by reason of the escape of the air therefrom; and to not only indicate this (fact, but to indicate to the driver which of the tires is deflated and affected.

Further objects and advantages of. the in- V8I1tlOI1 Will be. set forth in'the detailed description which now follows.

In the a'companying drawing, Figure 1 1s a view partly in rear elevation and partly in section of theleft'hand rear wheel of a motor vehicle, Fig. 2 is a sectional view-of a circuit closing attachment; and Fig 3' is a diagrammatic view illustrating the ClICllltS'. Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the'drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5.

designates the body of a motor vehicle supported upon axle 6-a'ndprovided with the usual wheels comprising spokes 7 rim 8,

V outer casing 9 and inner tubelO. Connected to the inflation valve stem 11 is a flexible tube 12 having at its lower end a threaded socket 13 carrying a spider 14: for depressing the valve to permit the passage of the air contained within the tire to the interior of cylinder 15 where the air acts against a plunger 16 having an air-tight fitting Within said cylinder. This action of the air against said plungerfo'rces the latter upwardly against the tension of aspring 17. This spring sur-.

rounds a stem 18 by which the plunger is carried. This stempasses through the upper end of the cylinder and has mounted thereon, a roller .19 held in place by a nut 20 and Washer 21. 'The cylinder 15 is carried-by a bracket 22 secured by screws or like fastening devices 23, to one ofthe spokes 7. i It will Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

Application filed March 21, 1914. Serial No. 826,399.

therefore be seen that the structure so far described rotates bodily with the wheel.

Secured to the under side of the airle 6 and extending longitudinally thereof is a pipe 24: within the mouth of which is dis-' posed a push button 25 of the ordinary construction. This pipe is for the purpose of after described;

l/Vhen the tire is inflated to the proper extent, the action of the'air against plunger 16 forces thestem 18 and the roller 19'to a I I receiving the current carrying wires hereinrelates to avtire deflation position where the roller lies above the push button, but if by reason-of the escape of air from the tire, said tire becomes deflated and the pressure of the air therein is materially reduced, the spring 17. acts to force the plunger downwardly and brings the roller 19 to such a position thatas the wheel rotates, this roller is caused to ride over the push button and press the same inwardly to close an electric circuit in the manner common to devices of this nature.

It will be readily understood that the elements above described are duplicated at each of the wheels and the manner of connecting the circuits is illustrated in Fig..3.;-'

In this figure, 26 designates a casing adapted to be disposed upon the dash board of the vehicle and containing four signaling elements, such for instance as incandescent lamps 27, 27 27 and 27. A common 'conduct-or 28 is connected to one sideof all of these lamps through the cross wires 29. One

side of the push button of the right hand front wheel is connected by abranch' conductor 30 with conductor 28. A branch conductor 31 connects one sideof the right hand rear push button with conductor 28.

branch conductor 32 connects one side of therear left hand push button with conductor 28, while the terminal end of conduc r push button. A conductor 33 connects the other side of this latter push button with the corresponding lamp 27. A conductor 34: connects the opposite side of the right hand front push button with the remaining side of the corresponding lamp 27. A conductor 35 connects the remaining side of the right hand rear push button with the remaining side of lamp 27 and a conductor 36 connects the left hand rear push button with the remaining side of lamp 27 1 A battery 37 or other source of energy is disposed within the so isconnected to one side of the left h .,d front conductor 28.- It will therefore be seen that if the right-hand rear tire becomes deflated,

the circuit will be completed as follows:

from one side of the push button through conductorsBl and 28 and the battery to the crosswires 29 back to lamp 27 and through conductor 35 to the opposite side of the push and ruptured in such manner that blow outs are likely tofollow. Furthermore, when the tire is run deflated, the casing rapidly rim cuts and if thetire is completely deflated without the "knowledge of the driver, the inner tube soon becomes chewed to pieces. 7 This structure is particularly advantageous because of the fact that it is so arranged that it may be readily attached to tires' aL ready in use. Itis only necessary to serew the. coupling 13 upon the valve stem to have the-new structure connected totheold. The stem 18 may, if desired, be providedwith i11- dicating figures, so that the driver may, by inspection of these.figures,- determine the pressure Within any of: the tires at anytime.

From the foregoing-description, it will bev seen that simple and efficient means. are herein provided for accomplishing the objectsof the invention, butwhile the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes for which'theyare intended, it is to be understood that the invention. is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but includes Within its purview such changes as may be made. within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having described my invention,what I claim is:

1. in a device of the character described,

the combination with a vehicle and its fpneumatic tires, of a cylinder, an air tlghtplunger fittedin said cylinder, means for connecting said cylinder to the inflation valve stem of the tire, a stem connected to said plunger,, spring means resisting the movement or" said plunger, a push button disposed in the path. of move ,ment offsaid plunger, an electric circuit controlled by said push button, and a signal in said circuit.

:2. In a device of ti e character described, the combination with a cylinder, an air-tight plunger fitted therein, spring means resisting the movement of said plunger, means for securing said cylinder to the spoke of a wheel, a conducting pipe leading from saidcylinder to the lIliifltlOIl valve, means for connecting said pipe to saidinfiation valve,

and means for automatically depressing the valve to permit the passage of air through said tube to the cylinder when said tube is secured in place. i

8. in a device of the character described,

the combination with a cylinder, of means for securing said cylinder to the spoke of a Wheel, an air-tight plunger fitted in said cylinder, spring means resisting the movement of the plunger, a stem carried-by said plunger, a roller carried by said stem, a tube leading from the bottom of said cylinder, and a valve depressing spider carried by said tube. v

4. In a device of-the character described,

the'combinationwith acylinder, of means for securing sa d cylinder to the spoke of a cylinder, spring means resisting the movewheel, an air-tight plunger fittedin said j mentof said plunger, a stein carried by said plunger, a roller carried by said stem, a tube leading from the bottom of said cylinder, a valve depressing spider carried by said tube, and a laterally movable push button disposed within the path of saidroller. 5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a cylinder, of means for. securing said cylinder to the spoke of the c linder s rin means resistin the movement of said plunger, a stem carried by said p'lungenqa roller carried by said stem, a tube leading from the bottom of said cylinder, a valve depressing spider carried by said tube,-a Wire receiving pipe, and a laterally movable push button disposed within the mouth of said pipe and supported thereby, said push button being disposed in the path of movement of said roller, radial movement of said roller"imparting lateral 'movement to said push button.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. miner c.

Witnesses F. T R. PR'ENTISS,

J. A. G. ivicKnRRoe.

wheel, an air-tight. plunger fitted in said 

